Power and Wealth

Afternoon.

Finance Ministry.

Dong Xiebing, Yan Yizhi, and Chen Xiaomei were waiting in the waiting area of the side building. They were getting hungry, and their stomach was rumbling.

Yan Yizhi asked. “Mayor Dong.”

Dong Xuebing replied. “I know you all are hungry. Let’s wait a while more.”

Yan Yizhi said. “But… Chief Qian had already….”

Dong Xuebing insisted. “Bear with it a little longer. We will have lunch later.”

The leader had spoken, and Yan Yizhi and Chen Xiaomei could not say anything. They could only grumble in their hearts.

Suddenly, Chen Xiaomei’s cousin, Zhang Hui, ran over. “Xiao Mei, why are you all here? I had been looking for you all.”

Chen Xiaomei was surprised. “What is it, Cousin?”

Zhang Hui quickly said. “Don’t ask anything and come with me. Hurry.”

Yan Yizhi stood up. “Chief Zhang, what is going on?”

“Let’s talk on our way. You all are in luck.” Zhang Hui said softly. “I heard from Chief Qian that Minister Xie wants to meet you all.”

Chen Xiaomei gasped. “Minister Xie? Which Minister Xie?”

Zhang Hui looked at her. “Which Minister Xie? Didn’t you all see him earlier?”

Chen Xiaomei and Yan Yizhi drew a deep breath. “Minister Xie wants to meet us?!”

“I don’t know what is going on.” Zhang Hui continued. “Maybe the Finance Ministry has schemes to help impoverished counties, and you all happened to be here.”

Yan Yizhi was overjoyed.

Chen Xiaomei was also excited.

Dong Xuebing laughed in his heart. What financial scheme?

A while later. Chief Qian appeared at the entrance and looked at Dong Xuebing, Yan Yizhi, and Chen Xiaomei. “Come with me. Minister Xie is waiting for you all.”

Yan Yizhi said. “Sorry to trouble you, Chief Qian.”

Chief Qian thought to himself. These people are damn lucky. He instructed. “Don’t talk unnecessarily later. Do you all know who Minister Xie is?”

Chen Xiaomei nodded. “Yes… yes…. We know what to do.”

Chief Qian nodded. “Let’s go.”

They walked to the Finance Ministry main building and took the elevator up.

Yan Yizhi and Chen Xiaomei were nervous when they knew they would meet Minister Xie. However, Chief Qian and Zhang Hui looked more nervous than them. Yan Yizhi immediately understood that even Chief Qian and Zhang Hui do not get to meet Minister Xie often despite working in the same ministry.

Upstairs.

The corridors were empty.

They knew this was the leader’s work area and walked cautiously.

They stopped in front of an office, and Chief Qian took a deep breath to calm his nerves. He knocked twice on the door and said. “Good afternoon. I am Xiao Qian.”

“Come in.” A young man said.

This man should be Xie Guoliang’s secretary, and Dong Xuebing had met him once.

They entered the office, and Chief Qian said. “Secretary Zhang, Minister Xie asked me to bring Zhen Shui County’s staff here.”

Secretary Zhang looked up and saw Dong Xuebing. He immediately smiled and shook Dong Xuebing’s hand with both hands. “When did you come, Brother Dong?”

Chief Qian was stunned….

Zhang Hui was stunned….

Yan Yizhi and Chen Xiaomei could not react in time….

Brother Dong?! This secretary is in his early thirties. Why is he addressing Dong Xuebing as Brother Dong?!

Dong Xuebing’s wife is in her thirties, and he follows Xie Huilan’s position in the Xie Family. Secretary Zhang is slightly younger than her, and Dong Xuebing is Xie Guoliang’s relative. It’s normal for him to address Dong Xuebing as Brother Dong. However, Dong Xuebing felt uncomfortable. “Don’t call me this, Brother Zhang. Just call me Xuebing will do. Hahaha…. I arrived yesterday.”

Secretary Zhang smiled. “Haha…. I will address you as Xuebing. Are you here on official matters? Minister Xie is inside. You can go in now.”

“Sure. We will go in first.” Dong Xuebing replied.

Secretary Zhang nodded. “Okay. Call me if you need anything.”

“I think I will be around for a few days. Let’s have dinner together if you are free.”

Secretary Zhang laughed. “Sure. I am free every day. It will depend on when you are free.”

Minister Xie’s secretary’s rank is not low, and he does not need to be so polite to everyone. However, Secretary Zhang knows who Dong Xuebing is and his position in the Xie Family. This guy is Xie Family’s Eldest Son-in-law. Beijing City Party Secretary Xie’s son-in-law!

Zhang Hui was speechless. What is going on? How come Secretary Zhang knows Dong Xuebing?

Chief Qian was also puzzled by Secretary Zhang’s attitude towards Dong Xuebing. “Secretary Zhang, why are we….”

Secretary Zhang thought for a second and said. “It should be about the issuance of funds.” After all, Chief Qian is in charge of this area.

“Oh, okay.” Chief Qian replied and looked at Zhang Hui. The latter is not allowed to enter.

Zhang Hui knows his place and waits outside. Before he left, he looked at Dong Xuebing again.

What is going on?

Yan Yizhi and Chen Xiaomei were puzzled too.

Dong Xuebing knocked on the door.

“Come in.” Xie Guoliang said.

Dong Xuebing opened the door and entered. Yan Yizhi, Chen Xiaomei, and Chief Qian took a deep breath before they entered the office. They were nervous.

Until now, they still don’t know what is happening. Why is Secretary Zhang so friendly and respectful towards Dong Xuebing? Their jaws dropped after entering the office.

Inside.

Xie Guoliang looked at Dong Xuebing and laughed. “Xuebing, you are here. Just sit wherever you want.”

Dong Xuebing felt at ease when he heard Xie Guoliang calling him Xuebing. “Eldest Uncle.”

Xie Guoliang nodded. “Have a seat first. I need to make a phone call.” He said and picked up the phone.

Everyone in the room was stunned.

Eldest Uncle?!

Dong Xuebing called Minister Xie, Eldest Uncle?!

It was okay to call him Uncle, as it is a common way of addressing elders. Anyone can be Uncle or Aunt. But Eldest Uncle is different. Only relatives will use this term.

Eldest Uncle?!

S**t! Chief Qian’s face turned green.

Yan Yizhi and Chen Xiaomei were shocked. They do not understand why Mayor Dong addressed Minister Xie as Eldest Uncle.

But when they saw Xie Guoliang did not express unhappiness, they understood what happened. Dong Xuebing and Minister Xie are relatives!

Damn!

This guy is good at keeping secrets!

Yan Yizhi and Chen Xiaomei looked at each other and did not know what to say.